Join hands to build ASEAN eco-schools, teaching students how to live green

That was the main topic of the workshop "Practical guidelines and roadmap for implementing the ASEAN Eco-School Criteria - Plastic Waste Free Schools" organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MARD) in Hue City this morning, October 21.

With more than 100 delegates attending and online at more than 1,000 locations nationwide, the workshop is a forum connecting schools, management agencies and social organizations to join hands to act towards the goal of reducing plastic waste in education , spreading the spirit of plastic waste-free schools nationwide.

Mr. Nguyen Do Anh Tuan, Director of the Department of International Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, spoke at the Workshop.

Speaking at the workshop, Mr. Nguyen Do Anh Tuan, Director of the Department of International Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, said that ASEAN always aims for an inclusive and sustainable future with the motto "One vision, one identity, one community" and the principle "Towards a green and sustainable ASEAN future". "Therefore, schools are not only places to teach literacy, but also places to teach students how to live green. In Vietnam, many schools have pioneered in reducing plastic, recycling waste, creating learning spaces close to nature. And Hue City is a bright spot in the Plastic-Reducing Urban movement", Mr. Nguyen Do Anh Tuan affirmed.

According to the Department of Education and Training of Hue City, since 2022, the plastic-reducing school model has been widely deployed throughout the city, attracting the participation of 180 schools with more than 54,000 students. Of which, 83 schools have chosen to be pilot models, collecting nearly 30 tons of scrap, including more than 5.5 tons of plastic, contributing to significantly reducing the amount of waste released into the environment, forming green living habits in the young generation.

Primary school students in Hue city are instructed by teachers to classify plastic waste.

This is an important foundation for Hue City to continue expanding the ASEAN Eco-School model - Plastic Waste Free School, aiming at the goal of comprehensive plastic reduction, improving the quality of environmental education and affirming its position as a pioneering locality in sustainable development in the Central region.

According to Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Le Cong Thanh, environmental education is not only the responsibility of schools but also the foundation for building a green community with awareness and concrete actions in protecting the planet. Therefore, spreading awareness of environmental protection and encouraging initiatives in teaching and learning is very important. From there, together we can build a bright - green - clean - beautiful school community, contributing to the sustainable development goals of the country and the region.

According to a survey, in 2022, Hue City was among the coastal localities with the highest density of plastic waste pollution in the country, with an average of 141.1 plastic waste items per meter of coastline, surpassing both Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang. Notably, single-use plastic accounted for up to 80% of the total amount of plastic waste at survey points on rivers and coastal areas. This figure shows a serious challenge for waste management and ecosystem protection in the downstream of the Huong River and Tam Giang - Cau Hai lagoon. From this reality, Hue has now become a leading locality in the movement to reduce plastic in schools and communities.

Source: https://cand.com.vn/Xa-hoi/chung-tay-xay-dung-truong-hoc-sinh-thai-asean-day-hoc-sinh-cach-song-xanh-i785288/